LXXV.—ON THE WASTE OF TIME.

LXXV.—ON THE WASTE OF TIME.FRANKLIN.Benjamin Franklin, distinguished as a statesman, a patriot, and a philosopher, was born at Boston in 1706. He began his career as a printer, and by diligence, integrity and rare sagacity, became one of the foremost of that able and brilliant band of men who were the leaders of the American Revolution. He died in 1790.

FRANKLIN.

Benjamin Franklin, distinguished as a statesman, a patriot, and a philosopher, was born at Boston in 1706. He began his career as a printer, and by diligence, integrity and rare sagacity, became one of the foremost of that able and brilliant band of men who were the leaders of the American Revolution. He died in 1790.

1. Amergus was a gentleman of good estate: he was bred to no business, and could not contrive how to waste his hours agreeably; he had no relish for any of the proper works of life, nor any taste for the improvement of the mind; he spent generally ten hours of the four-and-twenty in bed; he dozed away two or three more on his couch; and as many more were dissolved in good liquor every evening, if he met with company of his own humor. Thus he made a shift to wear off ten years of his life since the paternal[549]estate fell into his hands.

2. One evening as he was musing alone, his thoughts happened to take a most unusual turn, for they cast a glance backward, and he began to reflect on his mannerof life. He bethought himself what a number of living beings had been made a sacrifice[550]to support his carcass, and how much corn and wine had been mingled with these offerings; and he set himself to compute what he had devoured since he came to the age of man.

3. “About a dozen feathered creatures, small and great, have, one week with another,” said he, “given up their lives to prolong mine, which, in ten years, amounts to at least six thousand. Fifty sheep have been sacrificed in a year, with half a hecatomb[551]of black-cattle,[552]that I might have the choicest parts offered weekly upon my table. Thus a thousand beasts, out of the flock and the herd, have been slain in ten years’ time to feed me beside what the forest has supplied me with.

4. “Many hundreds of fishes have, in all their variety, been robbed of life for my repast,[553]and of the smaller fry, some thousands. A measure of corn would hardly suffice[554]me fine flour enough for a month’s provision, and this arises to about six score bushels; and many hogsheads of wine and other liquors have passed through this body of mine—this wretched strainer of meat and drink! And what have I done all this time for God and man? What a vast profusion[555]of good things wasted upon a useless life and a worthless liver!

5. “There is not the meanest creature among all those that I have devoured, but hath answered the end of its creation better than I. It was made to support human nature, and it has done so. Every crab and oyster I have eaten, and every grain of corn I have devoured, hath filled up its place in the rank of beingswith more propriety and honor than I have done. Oh, shameful waste of life and time!”

6. In short, he carried on his moral reflections[556]with so just and severe a force of reason, as constrained[557]him to change his whole course of life; to break off his follies at once, and to apply himself to gain some useful knowledge, when he was more than thirty years of age. He lived many following years, with the character of a worthy man and an excellent Christian;[558]he died with a peaceful conscience,[559]and the tears of his country were dropped upon his tomb.

7. The world, that knew the whole series of his life, were amazed at the mighty change. They beheld him as a wonder of reformation, while he himself confessed and adored the Divine power and mercy which had transformed him from a brute to a man. But this was a single instance, and we may almost venture to writemiracle[560]upon it. Are there not numbers, in this degenerate[561]age, whose lives thus run to utter waste, without the least tendency[562]to usefulness?

[549]Pa-terˊ-nal, belonging to or derived from one’s father.[550]Sacˊ-ri-fice, destruction or surrender of anything, made for the sake of something else; the thing destroyed or given up.[551]Hecˊ-a-tomb, the sacrifice of a hundred.[552]Blackˊ-cat-tle, cows, bulls, and oxen, as distinguished from sheep and goats, which are called small cattle.[553]Re-pastˊ, the act of taking food; that which is taken as food or a meal; victuals.[554]Suf-ficeˊ, to be sufficient or enough; to furnish or supply.[555]Pro-fuˊ-sion, a large quantity.[556]Re-flecˊ-tion, the turning of the mind to what has already occupied it; continued thinking.[557]Con-strainˊ-ed, compelled; forced.[558]Christˊ-ian, one who professes to believe in the religion of Christ; especially one whose inward and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ; one who has received the Sacrament of Baptism.[559]Conˊ-science, the power or principle within us which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our actions or affections, and approves or condemns them.[560]Mirˊ-a-cle, a wonder or wonderful thing; an effect or event that differs or departs from the known laws of nature.[561]De-genˊ-er-ate, having become worse than one’s kind; having lost in worth or goodness; degraded; mean.[562]Tendˊ-en-cy, direction or course toward any place, effect, or result; desire.

[549]Pa-terˊ-nal, belonging to or derived from one’s father.

[550]Sacˊ-ri-fice, destruction or surrender of anything, made for the sake of something else; the thing destroyed or given up.

[551]Hecˊ-a-tomb, the sacrifice of a hundred.

[552]Blackˊ-cat-tle, cows, bulls, and oxen, as distinguished from sheep and goats, which are called small cattle.

[553]Re-pastˊ, the act of taking food; that which is taken as food or a meal; victuals.

[554]Suf-ficeˊ, to be sufficient or enough; to furnish or supply.

[555]Pro-fuˊ-sion, a large quantity.

[556]Re-flecˊ-tion, the turning of the mind to what has already occupied it; continued thinking.

[557]Con-strainˊ-ed, compelled; forced.

[558]Christˊ-ian, one who professes to believe in the religion of Christ; especially one whose inward and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ; one who has received the Sacrament of Baptism.

[559]Conˊ-science, the power or principle within us which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our actions or affections, and approves or condemns them.

[560]Mirˊ-a-cle, a wonder or wonderful thing; an effect or event that differs or departs from the known laws of nature.

[561]De-genˊ-er-ate, having become worse than one’s kind; having lost in worth or goodness; degraded; mean.

[562]Tendˊ-en-cy, direction or course toward any place, effect, or result; desire.

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